Obsession, Owls and Ouch

I may have to rename my Monday Meme 'Random Mondays'... hehe. Did everyone have a great Thanksgiving? I hope so!

So, let's talk about obsession first. I hit my writing goal this weekend. Well, actually I think I said I wanted to write 10,000 words, but I really was firm on writing 3,000 words a day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, which I did. About 36 pages. I'm not disappointed. I'm sitting right under 70,000 words, so only 10,000 to my first draft goal. I don't think the first draft is going to hit the 80k, but I already know places I need to go back and flesh out, and I don't think I'm going to be cutting a lot, just tightening.

Anyways, so I entered the final climax of my book yesterday, which I hadn't fully plotted out yet, and I finally figured out exactly what's going to happen at the end. Yay! So, I have it all in my head, and I finished my writing for the day, and then I got in this weird obsessive house cleaning mood. It's weird because I hate cleaning. But I really cleaned. Like, on top of the refrigerator, moving all the kitchen appliances and cleaning under them. Yeah. I also threw away the toaster oven and trashcan. It was very strange.

I'll talk about ouch next so we can end on owls (a happy note). So, just a couple hours ago I got back a rejection on a request for the full manuscript of Countless, my first book. The agent said she was really intrigued by my idea and wanted to love the book, but just wasn't pulled in by my narrative and didn't feel it was ready for mainstream pub. Us writers are such sadistic little puppies I was actually glad to get honest, real feedback and not just a form rejection. Anyways, I've kind of had the same feeling about Countless. I think it's a good book. I just don't know that it's good enough to get an agent's attention. Of course, it's great that I'm just about done with my second book to distract me from the disappointment.

Getting to the Monday Meme, which is kind of random (like this whole post). So, I have this strange love of owls, which is fed by the many awesome owl things being sold everywhere these days. When I'm a famous author, I'll feed my owl merchandise fever by buying things like these:

**Photos removed since peeps have been getting sued for posting photos on blogs**

Of course, I may feed this owl fever before I'm a famous author :) But I'll feed it more when I have moula to spend on silly owl decor.

So, what about you, writer friends? Writing ups and downs? Any fave forest creatures? I hope everyone has a great week!

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author

I'm posting late today because I was trying to crunch and meet my writing goal for the week. I fell a bit short, but considering that Saturday and Sunday my husband and I were heading up a 5k run, poker run and car show for a memorial fundraiser, I still felt pretty good.

So, speaking of philanthropy, when I'm a famous author, I really want to make a difference around the world. I know I talk a lot about fun materialistic things on this meme, but really I'm all about giving back. After all, I do make my living at an educational non-profit.

My fave non-profit org, which my 'vintage' followers will remember, is Heifer International. Heifer is a world hunger group that takes a unique approach. Instead of just distributing food to people, they give people animals that can be used in sustainable farming practices, thus not only feeding the family but creating a business that will produce income for the family. For instance, goats can be used for milk, cheese and soap, geese for their eggs, sheep for their wool. Further, the families that receive the animal and education on how to start their business are required to pass on their knowledge and offspring from their animal to other families. It's really pretty frickin' amazing.

I give to Heifer every year, and last year I was stoked to discover that Nate Bransford also gives to them annually. He ran a pledge challenge on his blog that I joined in on. So, hint-hint, that's coming up soon. I'd like to find a really great environmental group and women and children's group as well.

So, what are your favorite non-profit orgs? Have a great week!

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author

You guys are probably going to giggle when you hear this one. It's something simple, something I lamented never having done when I was a teenager. So, here it is: when I'm a famous author, and I don't have to have a day job anymore, I want to dye my hair purple. Or maybe blue.

Okay, go ahead and snicker.

This idea came about a few days ago when I was having lunch with my husband. I think we'd just watched Scott Pilgrim vs. The World for the second time, and there's that chic who dyes her hair a different color each week. And I was wondering aloud why I hadn't done that when I was a teenager... well aside from that one time it was pink for a weekend accidentally when going from blonde to red. I realized it was because I've always had a job where it wouldn't be "appropriate" since I was fifteen. So, when I no longer need to be quite so appropriate, I'm totally going to do it.

I remember seeing this woman in the mall when I was seven or eight, and she had long, jet black hair, except for the last six inches or so, which were electric blue. It was so fantastic (clearly, since I remember it from so long ago). It looked something like this, except blue:

**Photos removed since peeps have been getting sued for posting photos on blogs**

These are cute, too:

**Ditto**

 

I'm sure I'd get tired of it quickly and go back to my usual, but it would be fun for just a little bit :) So, what about you? What color would you dye your hair if you could be as outrageous as you wanted?

In other news, I got back to work on my WIP today. I've been so busy with my day job that I've been too brain dead to write for the past few weeks. But, I really want to finish the first draft this year, and I'm pretty sure I can if chip away at it during the week and then hit it hard on the weekend. I'm aiming for 250 words a day four days a week and 6,000 words on the weekend.

Also, I had a gorgeous, shiny new idea yesterday that developed into a plot today, and I am super excited. It's going to be middle grade. I'm not going to let myself get too distracted before I finish my current WIP, but over the next seven weeks I can mull it over in my head and then start working on it while my first draft of Noir is having its six-week breather.

I hope all of your writing goals are going well! Have a fab week!

Monday Meme and Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

So, it's Sunday night and I've had a fun but tiresome weekend at Islands of Adventure (where HP World is) and Busch Gardens in Tampa. Even though we live like three hours from Orlando, we hadn't made it down to Harry Potter World yet. Here are some pics - if you haven't been, this could be considered a spoiler, so consider yourself warned.

Don't know, not too good at following rules... :)

The sky was behaving and gave me a nice backdrop.

Yum....

You could actually send yourself real mail from here. Like an acceptance letter to Hogwarts or something.  How rad is that???

And another of Hogwarts with the cool statues. The sign was cool too, there were these sparkly silver lights that kept lighting up behind 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry', to make it look like magic. It was a very fun weekend. The Hogwarts ride is really cool, even for a wimp like me. I only screamed once :)

Blending into my usual Monday meme... I don't know about you, but when I'm at theme parks, I usually have the urge to pick up a few souvenirs. Like, half the stuff in the Harry Potter store, some Grinch pajamas, a few things in the Marvel gift shop. So, when I'm a famous author, I'll go on a wild theme park shopping spree that would put Kim Kardashian to shame... not that she'd shop at a theme park. And then, to make up for my materialism, I'll make a large donation to the endangered animal fund at Sea World and Busch Gardens.

So, what theme park goodies do you want to get your paws on? What's your favorite theme park?

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author

Happy Monday! I haven't posted in a couple weeks because things have been insane at my day job... I kind of fell off the face of the blogging planet. Last week I was in D.C. for several days at a work conference, and have been putting in a lot of overtime for a variety of reasons I won't bore you with. And October doesn't look like it's going to slow down any... this weekend we're going to Busch Gardens and Harry Potter World, and at the end of the month I'm off to San Diego for World Fantasy Convention! It'll be a wild ride.

So, on to today's theme... when I'm a famous author. Since travel is majorly on my mind this month, we'll stick with that. First of all, when I'm a famous author, I'm flying first class, baby! Being 5'10", I'm all about the extra leg room.

Couldn't find any pics I liked of first class seats, so I settled for what I'll drink in first class. Yum. Also, when I travel, I'll always get a suite of rooms. Maybe like this:

**Photos removed since peeps have been getting sued for posting photos on blogs**

Or maybe:

 

**Ditto**

And, I'll definitely get spa services wherever I go.

**Ditto**

I feel more relaxed already... So, what about you? How will you travel in style when you're a famous author?

Stay tuned for updates on HP World and WFC 2011!

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author

So, I've been working on the October issue of Raven Moon, and I'm doing a feature on Laurell K. Hamilton this month. And you know what she has for sale on her website, cuz she's such a famous author? T-shirts and coffee mugs and stuff. You can even purchase a fan club membership for the year. Like, you actually have to pay for the membership.

I'd love to have the usual pics for this post, but it's getting really late and I couldn't quite figure out how to create pics of my super awesome Alexia Chamberlynn t-shirts, mugs, keychains, henna tattoos and fuzzy throws for snuggling on the couch. Or maybe they'd say A.A. Chamberlynn, because that has a writery ring, don't you think?

What else would be in my line of merchandise??? Bookmarks, action figures, Kindle covers, coozies (is that spelled with a k?), posters, pill boxes, those stretchy bracelet things they make for everything?

How about you? What will be in your line of famous author merchandise?

Happy Monday!!

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author...

Happy Monday, writer friends! One of the things I can't wait to have (and will hopefully have even before I'm a rich and famous author) is my very own library. Being a book lover, I want to have a beautiful space that sings praise to the loveliness that is books. Somewhere I can sit and drink tea, surrounded by fantastic writing while creating my own books to sit on the shelves.

So, I started Googling pics of libaries, and came across a rather addicting website called aptly http://www.beautiful-libraries.com/. I found all the pics below on this website, and if you have some time you'll want to stop by because it's super fun (celebrity libraries, libraries in movies, etc).

It was really hard to choose my fave pics, but here are a few:

**Photos removed since peeps have been getting sued for posting photos on blogs**

Classic design, big bay window, antique globes.... yes, yes and yes!

**Ditto**

On the opposite end of things; modern, fresh flowers, awesome green curtain and ladder. Love it!

**Ditto**

Okay, this pic was just too cute not to include. Rainbow colored books? Pug? For sure.

**Ditto**

And this was just too cool. Shelves over the windows... and what library is complete with a second story?

So, what would your dream library look like? Any cool must-have artifacts or special editions inside?

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author

Hi, writer friends! I'm going to keep today's meme short and sweet, because it's late Sunday night and I've been trying to hit the halfway point on my WIP this weekend. I'm about 750 words short, and I think sleepiness is going to conquer me... but I got a lot of pages cranked out, so I'm happy.

So.... my fantasies of fame and fortune can't be complete without a fantastic beach house. I am lucky enough to live within an hour of the beach here in Florida, and I think a part of my soul is always down there, rocking on the waves and drinking in the salty air. And while I'd be thrilled to have any beach house, I think I want a really unique one, unlike a lot of the ones around here, that all look pretty similiar. Mine would have more of a Mediterranean flare. Like this...

So, what about you? What kind of vacation home would you like to have?

Have a great start to your week, blog buddies!

Monday Meme: When I'm a Famous Author

Happy Labor Day, writer friends! Today is the second posting of my new weekly meme, in which I share one of my daydreams for when I'm a famous author. I LOVED all the daydreams you guys shared with me last week. So, let's go for round two - and if you have pics to post on your blog, put the link in your comment so we can all pop over!

So, in tribute to Labor Day, that will be the theme for today. When I'm a famous author, I won't have to have a 'day' job. I'll be able to write all day. Although, I like to break it up into sections, so my day will probably go something like this:

First, I'll wake up, take the kiddos to school, and stop by Starbucks. Then I'll have a fantastic caffeine fueled writing session. I'll probably do my blogging in the morning, too. Around midday, I'll have lunch, maybe with some friends in a yummy cafe. Since I won't have to go back to my office job, I can even have a little glass of wine if I want. I may take a nap after that. Then I'll pick the kids up, and head back home for another writing session. And, since I'm kind of a night owl, I may write another session later after the kids are asleep.

So, what about you guys? What are your famous writery daydreams of the week? Any fun Labor Day plans?

When I'm a Famous Author

My mom is pretty much the biggest positive affirmation believer you could ever meet. So, I grew up in a constant slew of discussions on the benefits of daydreaming and positive thinking. Plus, being a writer, I got an extra dose of daydreaminess. Since I often find myself caught up in these fun visions of the future, I thought it would be a cool weekly meme. As writers, we so often hear the negative stuff, about how few writers really make it, etc. And it's really easy to get sucked into this, and think, "Yeah, I probably won't make it." Because then our hopes never get too high. But, honestly? Most of us want to be published. And we probably want to be really successful at it. It's that little glimmer of hope within that keeps us plugging ahead through all the rejection we face.

So, why not step out of our comfort zones and try a fun positive visualization each week? Let that writery side of you take over and think "what if?" It could be something small. Like, "When I'm a famous author, I'm going to buy gourmet brownies from this website that was featured on Food TV."

Or, it could be something big. For instance, "When I'm a famous author, I'm going to be friends with Charlaine Harris. And then she's going to introduce me to Joe Manganiello, who plays her character Alcide Herveaux in True Blood."

Oh yeah, I'm married... but hey, it would be fun to meet him, right? When I'm a famous author.... So. I'm going to post my daydreams every Monday, since Monday is typically a sucko day (first day back to work and all that). It'll be a nice way to start the week. I do hope you'll share your daydreams with me, and even post your own pics on your blog if you want! We'll start the daydreamingest, smilingest, funnest meme ever.

Have a great weekend and see you Monday!